Wednesday, April 18, 2012

I fell off the wagon

I'm not really sure why I decided I'd do lots of online shopping 2 weeks before we move. But I guess if I have to carry an extra box then I won't mind too much if it's filled with fabric.

I just received my very first order from Hawthorne Threads today. [Sidebar: I love getting mail, but seeing a bundle of fabric stuffed in the mailbox might be the greatest feeling ever].

I love that they carry Essex linen, and wanted it for the quilt that I'll be making with all my bee blocks. So I got some yards in Natural. Well, maybe it's Natural, but we'll discuss further in a moment. I also got some of that cute little British fabric for a project that I cannot reveal yet. But hey, now you know it's British ;) So those are the things that I actually needed, and I got sucked into that Cabana Bloom print because I have no self control. By the way, it feels like Art Gallery fabrics, yum!

And, as though my willpower wasn't teetering on useless already, their scrap packs were on sale. Only $6 for 2 yards of fabric? Yes, please. I should have ordered multiples! All of those pieces are at least a quarter of a yard, with many of them bigger. Since there's 8 I'm thinking I must have gotten more than 2 yards...excellent.

So here's my issue. This photo is of the 2 yards of Essex linen that I received today. And the strip on top is from the Essex linen in my stash. You might have to enlarge it to see it all better, but there's a noticeable color difference. The pieces I already have are lighter. Well, this isn't too alarming as I have gotten plenty of Kona solids from different batches that are slightly different colors. My big problem is that they don't feel the same! Not even remotely. The yardage I just received is scratchy and "nubbly." I made my boyfriend feel the two pieces and he said the yardage felt like a burlap sack. Um, PROBLEM. I do not want a quilt that I slave over to feel like a burlap sack! The yards and yards of Essex linen that I've been buying for the last year haven't been as smooth as regular cotton, but they certainly haven't been scratchy either.

Has anyone purchased Essex linen in Natural recently and had this issue? I'm devastated, as I love all the other pieces I made with my old Essex, and was looking forward to getting more.

[Oh, and because the first step is admitting you have a problem, this wasn't my only fabric purchase recently. I'm just still waiting for more mail.]

4 comments:

I haven't used much linen but have bought lots of fabric from Hawthorne Threads. I'm sure they'd be willing to work something out or talk to you about it. I've had really great service from them before.

If the texture's different then for sure be sure to do something about it. Color is one thing but if it doesn't feel right then there may have been a mistake. Hope it works out ok!

I hope we get to see that secret British project with that adorable fabric soon!

And I'm a fabric addict too...May or may not have several shopping cart windows open on my computer that I'm debating between at this very moment!!

I'm so glad to hear that hawthorne's scrap packs are that good! I ordered all three different ones last week! I'm really eager to see what you're making with that Brit themed fabric, it's super cute. I don't know about that linen, I'd call Hawthorne.....

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